Summary
- Margot Robbie is flattered George Clooney thinks “it makes sense” that she’s playing his character’s mom in the Ocean’s Eleven prequel.
- Robbie and her LuckyChap co-founders dismiss the idea, neither confirming nor denying it.
- Robbie doesn’t have plans to make a Barbie sequel, preferring to focus on creating more original films with great filmmakers and budgets.
Margot Robbie put the kibosh on Danny Ocean’s parents. During a sit-down alongside her LuckyChap production company co-founders, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara, Robbie addressed the report that George Clooney thought, “It makes sense,” when it came to the reports that Robbie will play Danny Ocean’s mother in the upcoming Ocean’s Eleven prequel. Robbie said in the interview with Variety:
Honestly, I’m so chuffed to hear that. That is extremely high praise. Wow, how exciting!
Ackerley responded by saying, “That wasn’t a plot point that we’ve confirmed or denied. We’re still working on the script.”
An exclusive report posted on Showbiz411, which Roger Friedman wrote back on December 3, 2023, revealed that his sources had learned that the Ocean’s Eleven prequel would be titled Oceans. Friedman also reported that Robbie and Oceans’ co-star Ryan Gosling would portray the parents of Danny (Clooney) and Debbie (Sandra Bullock) Ocean. Robbie added in the same interview with Variety:
I don’t know who his parents will ultimately be or not be.
“Or if their parents are even in the movie,” continued Ackerley.
Oceans of Misinformation?
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling were thought to be playing Danny and Debbie Ocean’s parents in the upcoming prequel. However, Robbie and one of her LuckyChap co-founders, Tom Ackerley, have refuted the news. Could it be that they’re simply trying to throw off the fans, so they won’t know what to expect in the Ocean’s Eleven prequel? Or could it be that Roger Friedman’s report for Showbiz411 was inaccurate? LuckyChap co-founder, Josey McNamara, said in the same interview with Variety:
I wish I could be on the gossip channels all this information comes from. We hear it in the office.
Robbie added:
“I also read so much stuff that’s not true. ‘Margot Robbie’s doing that!’ And I’m like, ‘I’m 100% not, and I’ve never even heard that.’ I know people do that just to whip up a buying frenzy. I mean, we should take it as a compliment.”
What’s not in question is whether Robbie will return for any sequels to last summer’s bright-pink blockbuster, Barbie. Despite the fact that Greta Gerwig’s adventures in Barbieland made $1.44 billion during its 2023 theatrical run, Robbie doesn’t have any intention of reprising the role. Robbie told Variety:
“It’s funny, that knee-jerk reaction in this day and age for everyone to immediately ask about a sequel. I don’t think it was like that 20 years ago. This wasn’t designed to be a trilogy […] Everything went into Barbie — and that’s how Greta works. She finishes every movie on empty, feeling like she could never make another movie because she put everything she had into that one. So, I don’t know what it would take to fill that cup up again for her. Or for us. I think Warners would also agree.”
Robbie continued:
“I don’t know what more could even look like. We want to make more films that have the effect that Barbie has. I don’t know if it has to be Barbie 2. Why can’t it be another big, original, bold idea where we get an amazing filmmaker, a big budget to play with, and the trust of a huge conglomerate behind them to go and really play? I want to do that.”
It might make perfect sense that George Clooney sees Margot Robbie playing Danny Ocean’s mom. But Robbie denies it. A release date for the Ocean’s Eleven prequel is still to be determined, but fans of Robbie’s work can stream Barbie on Max, at the time of this writing. And if you’re a George Clooney fan, check out our interview with him and Joel Edgerton for Clooney’s film, The Boys in the Boat, below:
